Robin opened the door to Bruce's bedroom, knowing exactly where he was and what he was doing. He'd be brooding, sitting in a chair, staring out the window, or at something that meant something to him, like his mother's pearls. For all his mystery, Batman was predictable to those who knew him.
"You need to come back, Bruce."
"I can't. Not after nearly getting you and your friends killed, Dick. I'm getting sloppy, and that's not good for anyone."
"It's better than not being there at all. People are out there fighting right now to save a city you swore to protect. People could die out there without your help. You know the good you can do. I'm proof of that. You took an angry orphan and turned him into a full fledged superhero. I can't force you to come back, but you and I both know that it's the right thing for you to do."
"I know what you mean, but I can't take the chance of faltering. I'd never forgive myself if I caused more death."
"But you are! You're letting people die by not helping them!"
"What do you want me to do, Richard? Put the suit on and run out there? After almost getting kids killed?"
"First off, we aren't just kids and you know that. Second, that wasn't anybody's fault but Kitrina's. There was no way of knowing she'd get even more psycho. She's been taken care of."
"I don't know..."
"They sent you in after me?"
"Volunteered," Red Hood responded, now in the alternate dimension. "Before we head back, can I talk to you?"
"Sure, as long as we keep it brief."
"You need to make sure you appreciate that girl. I have never seen somebody so dead set on doing the impossible. I can tell what's going on here. You two have history. She loves you. There's no question of that. Raven's just worried because you've broken her heart and she doesn't think she could take that again. I'm telling you right now, don't. It's rare you find somebody like her. Don't let it go to waste." Nightweaver sat down on a crate, trying to take the advice to heart as best he could; he knew Red Hood was right.
"Let's get back to her, then." Red Hood grabbed Weaver by the arm and hit the button on his sleeve.
Nothing happened. He hit it again.
Nothing.
"Oh son of a bitch..."
Flash dodged left and right as more Apokoliptians boarded the Watchtower. Dr. Manhattan simply stood back and watched as Flash rushed through the growing crowd of soldiers, tearing the weapons from their hands.
"Wanna gimme a hand, Doc?'
"Interference on my part may cause unpredictable consequences. I cannot see your universe's timeline as I can my own."
"Just do something! It'll make this a lot easier!"
"I attempted to warn you. I am not at fault if this has a terrible outcome." The Apokoliptians vaporized immediately, leaving behind nothing but dust.
"That's a pretty nifty power. Let's get those two back here."
"Keep a hold of me, Weaver. We don't know whether or not they're going to be able to get us back, so I'd rather not take the chance that I get taken back without you."
"I'm not holding your hand," he joked. Nonetheless, he made sure to remain in close proximity to Red Hood, just in case he needed to grab him.
"You three! On the ground!" Five soldiers armed to the teeth were holding them at gunpoint; Rorschach practically vanished, leaving Nightweaver and Red Hood stuck in front of a firing line. They complied quickly, lying on their stomachs and clasping their hands above their heads when they were told.
"Weaver, if you make it out of this, and I don't-"
"Shut up!"
"Grab a hold of me if I start to disappear. I don't know what it's going to look like." His feet started to dissolve, his matter disappearing from the universe as if burning section by section; Weaver grabbed the Hood's arm, and his legs started to transport as well.
"Stop doing what you're doing, or we will shoot!"
"Shit! Jason, run!" Weaver shot up and dragged Red Hood with him, jumping behind some crates as the soldiers opened up fire. Splinters rained down on them as lead flew through their cover; a bullet shot through Red Hood's arm and another through his leg just before they made it all the way through to the other side.
"Nightweaver! Are you alright?" Flash asked; they were flat on the floor of the teleporter pad, Flash crouched in front of them.
"Yeah. Hood's hurt. You need to help him. Where's Raven?"
"Down in Gotham. You're not in any condition to be fighting, Weaver."
"Fighting who?"
"Apokoliptians attacked just as we were about to mount a search and rescue. We figured two of the biggest cities in the world were more of a priority. No offense."
"I understand."
"I'll get her up here as soon as..." Barry trailed off, listening to something in his communicator.
"What is it?"
"The Apokoliptians just retreated. Why... what? That doesn't make sense."
"What?!"
"Batgirl's saying she saw Raven get knocked out. A whole squad of them grabbed her, and then they all just started to run off. Superman confirmed, they both had the Apokoliptians disappear in the same timeframe."
"She was their objective?"
"I don't know, Weaver." Simon walked over to the main computer and started typing on the keyboard; Flash tried to figure out what he was doing, until the diagram opened up on the monitor.
"You're opening up a boom tube?"
"I'm going to get her."
"Don't be stupid!"
"Too late."